US Strikes Five Iranian Tankers in Response to Missile Attacks
The US military has struck five Iranian tankers in response to attempted ballistic missile attacks on a US Navy warship. The strikes targeted four crude oil carriers in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, according to CENTCOM.
US forces instructed the crews of the vessels to abandon ship prior to striking. No American personnel were harmed during the attacks.
The US has focused its strategy on striking or disabling targets around the Strait of Hormuz as part of a 'full court press' to ramp up economic pressure on Iran's leadership.
Iran has vowed to retaliate by targeting oil tankers near Bahraini and Kuwaiti ports. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned crews aboard oil tankers in the vicinity of these ports to immediately leave their vessels, as they will be targeted.